2025 AHA PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider Manual

AHA PALS HeartCode Skills Checkoff at First In Last Out Medical Response 3322 Coors Blvd NW Suite 4 Albuquerque, NM 87120

American Heart Association AHA
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PALS-Skills
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Description

AHA HeartCode PALS Skills Checkoffs at First In Last Out Medical Response 3322 Coors Blvd NW Suite 4 Albuquerque, NM 87120.

An AHA HeartCode® PALS Skills Checkoff (also called a “hands-on skills session” or “skills check-off”) is the in-person, instructor-led practical evaluation component of the HeartCode PALS blended learning course. It’s where learners demonstrate mastery of the psychomotor / procedural skills required for PALS after completing the online portion.

Here’s a breakdown of what it is, how it works, and what to expect:

Role within the HeartCode PALS Blended Format

  • HeartCode PALS is a blended learning delivery method: learners complete the didactic / cognitive learning (online) portion first. cpr.heart.org+1

  • The skills checkoff is Part 2 / Part 3 of the HeartCode structure—that is, after completing the online module, you attend the in-person session to practice and validate your hands-on skills. Heart eLearning+4CJCFPD+4cpr.heart.org+4

  • You must show proof of completion of the online portion (often a certificate or transcript) before being allowed to attend the skills session. ShopCPR+3cvtc.augusoft.net+3CJCFPD+3

What Happens in the Skills Checkoff

During the in-person session, the instructor(s) will have you perform various PALS-relevant skills, simulate scenarios, and be evaluated on correct technique, decision-making, teamwork, and timing. Typical components include:

  • Pediatric / Infant CPR (including single rescuer and team rescuer techniques)

  • Use of bag–mask ventilation on infants/children

  • Airway management maneuvers appropriate to pediatric patients

  • Vascular access (often intraosseous access, IV access)

  • Defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion, and pacing in pediatric arrhythmias

  • Megacode / scenario simulations combining assessment, diagnosis, algorithm use, and team coordination

  • Team dynamics / leadership during pediatric emergencies

  • The instructor will use a skills checklist / rubric to evaluate each learner’s performance, and may require remediation or retesting for steps not performed correctly. CPR123, Inc.+5cpr.heart.org+5CJCFPD+5

Some training centers report the skills session lasts ~2 hours (for just the checkoff) following completion of the online course. Touchnet

Outcome & Certification

  • If you successfully complete the skills session (meeting performance criteria) and you have already completed the online portion, you will receive the PALS Provider Course Completion Card (or eCard), valid for 2 years, just like in a full instructor-led course. cpr.heart.org+2Heart eLearning+2

  • If any required skills are not performed satisfactorily, you may be given remediation or a chance to retest until you meet standards (depending on the training center).

A PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) Skills Session is an in-person, hands-on competency evaluation aligned with American Heart Association (AHA) standards. It is designed to verify that a healthcare provider can safely and correctly perform pediatric resuscitation skills, not to re-teach the full course content.

This format is commonly used for initial certification skills verification, renewals, or blended/online PALS programs where the cognitive portion is completed in advance.

What Happens in a PALS Skills Session?

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The session focuses on demonstration and evaluation, using pediatric manikins, defibrillators, airway equipment, and medication scenarios.

Core Skills Assessed

1. Pediatric & Infant BLS

  • High-quality CPR (rate, depth, recoil)

  • Compression-to-ventilation ratios

  • Team-based CPR roles

  • Effective bag-mask ventilation

2. Airway Management

  • Pediatric airway positioning

  • OPA/NPA sizing and placement

  • Bag-mask ventilation techniques

  • Oxygen delivery devices

3. Rhythm Recognition & Defibrillation

  • Identification of:

    • Shockable rhythms (VF, pulseless VT)

    • Non-shockable rhythms (PEA, asystole)

  • Pediatric defibrillation:

    • Energy dose selection (J/kg)

    • Pad placement

    • Safe shock delivery

4. Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithms

  • Cardiac arrest management

  • Bradycardia with poor perfusion

  • Tachycardia (narrow vs wide complex)

  • Post-ROSC care principles

5. Vascular Access & Medications

  • IV and IO access (simulation)

  • Weight-based medication dosing

  • Use of epinephrine, amiodarone, adenosine, etc.

  • Pediatric code cart familiarity

6. Team Dynamics & Communication

  • Role clarity (team leader, compressor, airway)

  • Closed-loop communication

  • Effective leadership and situational awareness

What the PALS Skills Session Is Not

  • ❌ Not a lecture-based class

  • ❌ Not a full review of all PALS content

  • ❌ Not self-paced or online

  • ❌ Not optional for certification

It is a required, instructor-led evaluation per AHA guidelines.

Who Needs a PALS Skills Session?

  • Nurses (ED, ICU, PICU, NICU)

  • Paramedics & EMTs

  • Physicians & APPs

  • Respiratory therapists

  • Hospital-based pediatric providers

  • Providers completing HeartCode® PALS or blended learning

Duration

⏱️ Typically 2–4 hours, depending on:

  • Group size

  • Learner experience

  • Initial vs renewal

  • Instructor-to-student ratio

What You Receive Upon Successful Completion

  • ✔️ AHA PALS Provider eCard

  • ✔️ Certification valid for 2 years

  • ✔️ Documentation of hands-on skills competency

Summary (Plain Language)

A PALS Skills Session is where healthcare providers prove they can actually perform pediatric life-saving skills—CPR, airway management, defibrillation, medication delivery, and team leadership—in real-time simulated pediatric emergencies, under the observation of a certified AHA PALS Instructor.